LIVE: Oral arguments on ICC withdrawal

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court on Tuesday resumed oral arguments on petitions questioning the legality of the executive department's decision to withdraw from the International Court without Senate concurrence.

The oral arguments cover consolidated petitions from the minority senators and the Philippine Coalition for the International Criminal Court led by former Commission on Human Rights chair Loretta Rosales.

Members of the Senate minority — Francis Pangilinan, Franklin Drilon, Bam Aquino, Leila de Lima, Risa Hontiveros and Antonio Trillanes IV — asked the SC in May to declare President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to withdraw ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Although Senate concurrence is needed in the ratification of treaties, the Palace has argued that withdrawing from them is within the president's prerogative.

The Philippines announced last March that it would be withdrawing from the ICC. The announcement came a month after the international tribunal's prosecutor opened a preliminary examination — not an investigation — into the alleged crimes against humanity during the Duterte administration. 

Tune in to the live audio streaming of the second day of the oral arguments on Tuesday, September 4, 2018.